DANTE J. PICCIANO, Ph. D. December 14, 1980 With respect to all the peoples of the Marshall Islands, the Loma Linda University Health Care Proposal is an “Integrated, com- prehensive health care program,” which addresses health care, health care administration, prehensive manner. and diseases, However, and hospital administration in a comfor radiation-related health effects the Loma Linda Proposal does not present an integrated preventive medicine program. It is recommended that the Loma Linda Proposal be enlarged to include both the study of the most obvious health effects of radiation exposure -- namely, cancer, aenetic or mutational outcome, and re- productive effects -- and the corresponding preventive measures associated with these public health problems. Radiation is capable of adversely interacting with the human organism and, as such, presents an increased risk of damage to individuals who are exposed. Radiation interacts with and causes permanent changes in the individual's genetic material or genetic processes. Thus, radiation is a known mutagen, and mutagens are believed to play a causative role in four major human health problems: 1. Hereditary Defects (ranging from minor physical deviations to severe mental retardation); . 2. Cancer; 3. Heart Disease and, possibly, aging (atheroselerosis). After a mutation has occurred, one of three results is possible: 1. The mutation can be repaired; 2. The mutation can lead to cell death; or _ 3. The mutation can persist through cell division.